Refrigerating apparatus



s INVENTOR E. J. KIMM REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed April 30, 1951 /wm mm Nm FF. -m www May 16, 1933.

BY l W ATTORNEY J du Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IEWALD J'. RIMM, OF DAYTON, OHIO, `ASSIG/N'OR T0 FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION', OF DAYTON, OHIO,4 A COBPORATION'OF DELAWARE BEFRIGERATIN G APPARATUS Application fued April so,

One of t e objects of this invention is to provide an vimproved form of refrigeratp ing element which is simple and economical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a refrlgeratf ing element of the type which can be successfully coated with vitreous enamel and which has substantially smooth exterior surfaces while at the same time said surfaces are maintained in spaced relationship against pressures in said element.

Another object is to provide a refrigerating element with a large surface area for direct contact of liquild refrigerant.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be 'apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present inventlon is clearly shown.

Tn the drawing: l

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration embodying features of the present invention, and showing the refrigerating element on an enlarged scale partly 1n elevation and partly in cross-section; and l v Fig. 2 is an end view in elevation of the refrigerating element. Y

Referring tothe drawing the numeral 20 designates 1n general a refrigerating system embodying features of my invention. The system 20 includes in general a refrigerating element 22 and a refrigerant circulating element 24. The refrigerating element 22 may be formed of onefevaporating member or it may be made up of sections such as shown at 23 and 23a. The section 23a is provided with an inlet ,connection 25 and an outlet connection 2G.

The refrigerating element 22 is preferably formed of a plurality of sheet metal members which permits the element to be formed by punching and stamping operations which are very economical to carry out. As shown in Fig. 1 the section 23a of the refrigerating element 22 includes an inner shell member and an outer shell member 32 and the 1991. serial No. 533,997.

helically formed corrugated sheet metal member disposed between the shells 3() and 32. The corrugated member 35 cooperates with the shells 30 and 32 providing a plurality of tortuous passages, namely, 55

and 41 for circulating refrigerant in the section 23a. The section 23a provides an inner freezing compartment 26a adapted to receive a receptacle 27 for substances to be frozen. l

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the corrugated member 35 consists of a corrugated ribbon-like member helically wound around the inner shell member 30 with its sides in abutment so as toprovide the pas- 5 it will be noted that the refrigerant which 75 enters the inlet connection 25 will ass into the passage 41 and by reason of t e opening the refrigerant will also pass into the passage 40. The refrigerant being withdrawn from the outlet connection 26 is reso ceived vfrom both passages 40 and 41 by reason of the opening 51. Thus it will be noted 4that I have provided an eva orator with a large surface area for virect contact with liquid refrigerant since g5 I have arranged the passages 40 and 41 in parallel relation which thus provides a substantially entire refrigerant area between they shells 30 and 32.

Liquid refrigerant is supplied to the re- 90 frigerant element 22 through a supply conduit under control of an expansion valve 56 and the evaporated refrigerant is withdrawn from the refrigerating element by means of vapor conduit 58, both conduits be- 95 ing suitably connected to the circulating ele` ment 24. The circulating element comprises in general a condenser 60, compressor 62 and a motor for driving the compressor 62.

Current is suppliedto the motor 64 through 100 assages 40 and 41. lThe outer shell 7 power mains 66 under the control of an automatic switch 68. The switcheis controlled by thermostat 70 herein shown attached to the rear of the evaporator 23a.

It will be noted that the shells 30 and 32 are provided with substantially flat and smooth Walls, and accordingly some means is necessary to hold the two shells together 'against pressures within the walls.

For this purpose I have provided a number of ,tie means distributed throughout the walls of the element 22. yThis is accomplished b in a suita le solution, such as copper, before these parts are assembled. After the parts are placed in position, the outer shell 32 is bent around the inner shell as at 76 to thus seal'the ends of the section 23m. The evaporator is then placed in an endwise position in a suitable device and hydrogen welded. Thiscauses the copper or other solution to melt and run between the points of contact of the parts 30, 32 and 35. Thus the corrugated member 35 is securely attached to the shells 30 and 32 to thus maintain these shells in spaced relationship against pressures in the element 22. A suitable end plate 80 is attached to the rear of the section 23a to plrevent the circulation of air throughout t e freezing compartment 26a of the section 23a.

If desired, any number. of these sheet metal sections may be attached together by means of suitable couplings 90 and connections 91 and 92, which permits liquid refrigerant to enter the section 23 of the refrigerating element 22 and by means of similar couphngs 94 and connections 95 and 96, the evaporated refrigerant is withdrawn from the section 23 whence it passes into the section 23a which communicates with vapor conduit 58. The section 23 may be of the same `construction as section 23a.

For the purpose of appearance I prefer to coat the entire refri erating element with vitreous enamel and or this purpose it is necessary to bake the entire structure at high temperature. It is essential to the successful coating with enamel and baking of a sheet metal structure that the thickness of the metal be substantially uniform in order to insure uniform heating and cooling of the structure throughout. As shown in the drawing it will be apparent that I have provided a sheet metal refrigerating element which can be successfully coated with vitreous enamel. I have also provided said refrigerating element with exterior surfaces which are substantially flat and smooth While at the same time I have secured the exterior surfaces in spaced relationship against pressure within the passages without the aid of any means on the exterior of said refrigerating element.

While the form of embodiment of the indipping the parts 30, 32 and 35' vention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preform, it is to be understood that l ferred d other forms mightbe adopted, all coming within the sco of the claims which follow.

What is clalmed is as follows; 1. A sheet metal evaporator for refrigerating apparatus comprising an elongated shell, a corrugated ribbon-like member at the ends thereof, and` said shellsbeingI disposed horizontally to provide a freezing zone adapted to receive a receptacle to be cooled.

2. A sheet metal evaporator for refrigerating apparatus comprising an elongated shell, a Vcorrugated ribbon-like member wound around said shell and having portions of the corrugations sealed to said shell to provide a closed tortuous assage around said shell, a second elongated) shell disposed around said corrugated ribbon-like member, said second shell being sealed to other portions of the corrugations of said ribbon-like member to provide a second closed tortuous passage around saidl secondV shellz said pas-v sages being in open communicatlon at one end thereof, a refrigerant inlet connection communicating with one end of said first named passage, a refrigerant outlet connection communicating with one end ofv said second named passage, and said shells being disposed horizontally to` provide a freezing zone adapted to receive a receptacle l-v to be cooled.

3. A sheet metal@ evaporator for refrigerating apparatus comprising an elongated shell, a corrugated ribbon-like member wound around said shell and having portions of the corrugations sealed to said shell to provide a close tortuous passage around said shell, a second elon ated shell disposed around said corrugate ribbon-like member,

said second shell being sealed to other portions of the corrugations yof said'ribbonlike member to provide a second closed tor'- tuous passage around said second shell, said passages beingl 1n open communication at both endsv thereof, a refrigerant inlet connection communicating with adjacent ends of both of said passages, a refrigerant outlety connection communicating with the opposite adjacent ends of both of said passages, and said Shells being disposed horlzontally to provlde a freezing zone adapted to recelve a receptacle to be cooled.

4. A sheet metal evaporator for refrigerating apparatus comprising a rectangularly shaped elongated shell, a corrugated ribbonlike member helically Wound around said shell and having portions of the corrugations sealed to -said shell to provide a closed spiral passage around said shell, a second rectangularly shaped elongated shell disposed around said corrugated ribbon-like member, said second shell being sealed to other portions of the corrugations of said ribbon-like member to provide a second closed Aspiral passage around said second shell, said passages being in open communication at the ends thereof,`and said shells being disposed horizontally to provide'a freezing zone adapted to receive a receptacle to be cooled. 5. A sheet metal evaporator for refriger- 1 ating apparatus comprising a reotangularly shaped elongated shell, a' corrugated ribbon.- like member helically wound around said shell and having portions of the corrugations sealed to said Vshell to provide a closed Aspiral passage around said shell, a second rectangularly shaped elongated shell disposed around ,Said corrugated ribbon-like member, said second shell being sealed to other portions of the corrugations of said ribbon-like member to provide al second closed spiral passage around said second shell, -said passages being in opten communication at one end thereof, a refrigerant in let connection communicatingwith onel end of said first named passage, a refrigerant outlet connection communicating with one end of said second named passage, and said shells being disposed horizontally to provide a freezing zone adapted to receive a receptacle to be cooled. o 6. A sheet metal evaporator for refrigerating apparatus comprising a rectangularly shaped-elongated shell, a corrugated ribbonlike member helically wound around said shell and having portions of the corrugations sealed to said shell to provide a closed spiral passage around said shell, a second rectangularly shaped elongated shell disposed around said corrugated ribbon-like member, said second shell being sealed to other portions of the .corrugations of said ,ribbon-like member to provide a second closed spiral passage around said second shell, said passages being in open communication at both ends thereof, a refrigerant inlet connection communicating with adjacent ends of both of said passages, a refrigerant outlet connection communicating with the opposlteadja'cent ends of both of said passages, and said shells being disposed horiw zontally to provide a freezingzone adapted to receive a receptacle to be cooled. c

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

EWALD J. KIMM. 

